Looking around the place with living eyes was a different experience. Everything had a sound and smell now, and the colours were brighter. There had been a film over the world; keeping her from touching or participating in it properly. She had been a memory, a ghost, an impression.
River's mind pitted her understanding of what had occurred against the shock of having been dead--now alive--that made way for the still-fresh recollection of pain at the time of her battle against the Rider. Neither were winning, but neither were loosing.
She needed to find Simon. He was here. She just needed to put one foot infront of the other and find him. Leaving the boots where they had reappeared, she moved towards the stairs, keeping one shoulder along the wall. His footsteps were fresh on the second floor, and she found him when she doubled back, wobbling and holding her head while emotions, her own and others', threatened to incapacitate her.
She knew what he wanted to do, and she stopped him by flinging her arms around his shoulders and dragging him to the floor with her weight.